Outlook for Sustainable Fiber Supply Through Forest Management and Other Development in the U. S. Pulp and Paper Sector, 2001 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Peter J. Ince--Continued growth and sustainable development of fiber supply in the U.S. pulp and paper sector appears to be assured for decades to come because of ongoing improvements in forest management, along with projected shifts in product markets, international trade, and production technology. This is one conclusion that may be drawn from a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, assessment of timber supply and demand, which included a detailed analysis of economic issues surrounding sustainable development of fiber supply and demand in the U.S. pulp and paper sector. The analysis encompassed economic projections of regional trends in pulpwood supply and demand, process substitution and capacity growth, trends in paper recycling, and potential development of agricultural fiber resources, as well as overall trends in production, consumption, and trade throughout the pulp and paper sector. This paper summarizes the analysis, key assumptions, and key findings related to projected fiber supply and demand in the U.S. pulp and paper sector.